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Payouts elevated for ADCC 2026, however ladies’s purses nonetheless lag behind
The largest information this week is ADCC rising the payouts for his or her biennial world championships.
ADCC 2026 occurs on September 12-14, 2026 in Poland, and probably the most prestigious no gi occasion has introduced that their complete occasion payout will now quantity to $362,000, up from the $230,600 listed for earlier years. Prizes for males’s champions will get doubled to $20,000, whereas the winners of absolutely the event and the super-fight title will every get $50,000.
ADCC’s payout breakdown is as follows:
The game of jiu-jitsu has been quickly rising, and purses for grappling stars have been steadily rising, particularly as competitors will increase attributable to promotions like CJI and UFC BJJ getting into the fold. ADCC bettering their longstanding purses is certainly a optimistic and welcome growth. On the similar time, it additionally highlights how there’s nonetheless a variety of room for development from probably the most prestigious occasion within the sport.
Regardless of feminine BJJ stars routinely being a few of the largest points of interest at a number of excessive profile occasions, the purses, bracket sizes, and invited opponents in ADCC are nonetheless simply half of the lads’s. Feminine champions solely get $10,000 for profitable their division, whereas silver and bronze medalists obtain $5,000 and $2,000, respectively. The full $362,000 prize cash they listed for ADCC 2026 additionally solely accounts for only one absolute event, which is sort of assuredly for the lads. So it’s nonetheless unclear if ladies will obtain something near that $50,000 prize for an Absolute event, and the way a lot they’ll truly go over that introduced finances.
Adele Fornarino is the reigning absolute champion and double gold medalist from ADCC 2024.
It’s additionally value noting that Craig Jones created CJI to rival ADCC in 2024, largely to protest the low pay ADCC athletes obtain. Males’s champions used to get $10,000, so that they made present cash for CJI 1 quantity to $10,001 for each athlete who competed.
Extra BJJ stars depart Atos after Andre Galvao scandal
After Andre Galvao was accused of sexual misconduct on his teenage college students, there was a mass exodus of gymnasium associates, prime BJJ athletes and college students from his Atos workforce.
Atos HQ seemingly tried to do some injury management by making an attempt to distance themselves from each Andre and his spouse Angelica Galvao, who has been accused of protecting up and silencing victims. Enterprise filings obtained by MMA Mania confirmed that the corporate has been solely owned by Andre Galvao, and the PR assertion doesn’t appear to be serving to their trigger a lot.
Whereas longtime Atos star Ronaldo Junior didn’t have Galvao in his nook for his latest title protection at UFC BJJ 5, a number of different champions from the gymnasium have publicly severed ties with each Atos and Galvao. After the preliminary wave of exits, a number of extra BJJ stars have since adopted swimsuit, together with the likes of reigning ADCC double champ Kaynan Duarte, six-time IBJJF world champ Lucas Barbosa, and Rolando Samson.
The checklist of earlier BJJ stars and coaches who’ve lower ties embrace Andy Murasaki, Lucas Pinheiro, Josh Hinger, JT Torres, Gustavo Batista, Dom Bell, and Bruno Frazatto amongst others.
There are studies that Atos may attempt to proceed with Andre Galvao’s teenage daughter Sarah Galvao as the pinnacle coach.
2026 IBJJF No Gi Absolute GP to kick off with Featherweight champ vs. Mild Heavyweight champ
The IBJJF shall be internet hosting an Absolute Grand Prix event with some promising cross-division match ups. The 2026 No Gi Absolute GP occurs this Thursday (February 26, 2026), in Costa Mesa, California, and can characteristic BJJ stars like Diego Pato, Pedro Marinho, Victor Hugo and Michael Pixley.
Apparently sufficient, the primary ranked featherweight in Pato is being thrown within the deep finish immediately. Pato, a six-time IBJJF world champion at 141 lbs, will face WNO gentle heavyweight champion Marinho within the opening spherical. The winner will face both Pixley or Gustavo Batista, whereas the probably event favourite in Hugo shall be on the alternative facet of the bracket.
The complete combat card is under:
2026 IBJJF No Gi Absolute GPVictor Hugo vs. Marlon TajikJavier Barter vs. Nick HarmanPedro Marinho vs. Diego PatoMichael Pixley vs. Gustavo BatistaCole Abate vs. Will Wilson (Gi)Helena Crevar vs. Aghata Rabelo (No Gi)Sarah Galvao vs. Maria Vicentini (Gi)Leonardo Souza vs. Mateo Cardona (Gi)Ashlee Funegra vs. Yasmyn Castro (Gi)Dominic Manno vs. Luan Veras (Gi)Kellyson Carlos vs. Evan Duncan (Gi)Natalee Funegra vs. Kaitlyn Schmidt (Gi)Johnny Anderson vs. Julio Cesar (Gi)JP Tran vs. Asafe Alves (Gi)Mick Whelan vs. Isaac Huertas (Gi)
One other title bout added to UFC BJJ 7
Three title bouts had been beforehand introduced for UFC BJJ 6 and UFC BJJ 7, and now one other one has been booked. A light-weight title protection has been added to UFC BJJ 7 on April 2, 2026, with inaugural champion Carlos Henrique defending his belt towards two-time IBJJF no gi world champ Lucas Valente.
There shall be at the very least two title bouts on the April 2 occasion, as this bout joins the featherweight title bout between Aurelie Le Vern and Brianna Ste-Marie.
WNO 32 to characteristic Light-weight Grand Prix
WNO 32 is about to crown a brand new light-weight champion, with the promotion asserting a four-man light-weight grand prix for the belt. Particulars and opponents have but to be revealed however the occasion will occur on March 31, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
The announcement of this event crowning a brand new champion is fascinating as Diego Pato at the moment holds the WNO titles at each featherweight and light-weight. He was beforehand set to defend his light-weight title in a rematch towards Deandre Corbe, nevertheless it was scrapped from the WNO 31 card on the final minute.
Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC through Getty Photos
To shut issues out, listed below are different fascinating BJJ tales you may need missed:
As a result of “unfixable” well being points, Gordon Ryan has formally introduced his retirementZabit Magomedsharipov is again! Sort of – The fan-favorite UFC star is ending his fight sports activities hiatus and could have a grappling super-fight.ADCC EMEA Trials simply concluded with Eoghan O’Flanagan being the largest winner
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